Motivational Mantras to Help You Maintain a Positive Mindset

By: Nicole Booz

While there are many benefits of positive thinking, maintaining that mindset is more difficult than we’d like to admit.

We sometimes get lost in the small, daily struggles of life. We get frustrated with traffic during our commutes, with the co-worker who won’t refill the printer no matter how many times you ask, and even with ourselves for being tempted by doughnuts on Monday morning.

We end up putting more focus on the negatives than we realize, and before we know it, our whole attitude has changed for the worse.

This is where mantras come in. Using a mantra can help you stay focused on your goals. It can also help you push through tough times and keeps your mind focused on the positives instead of the negatives.

Here are a few motivational mantras you can adopt in your everyday life to help you maintain a positive mindset:

1. It’s not a race, you can slow down.

How many of your frustrations come from rushing? It seems as though we’re always rushing to get somewhere or to finish something.

Does it always feel like you’re in a hurry? Take a minute and slow down. Remind yourself that nothing catastrophic will happen if you’re a few minutes late—nothing is so urgent that it can’t wait for you to slow down and take a breath.

Do you get impatient when you find yourself waiting for something? Whether it’s the coffee to finish brewing or for a response to an email, impatience seeps its way into our lives in sneaky ways. Kick your impatience to the curb and let yourself breathe.

Use this when: You’re in a hurry for no apparent reason and when you feel impatient.

2. I am stronger than I think I am.

Do you ever feel as though you can’t handle something? We’ve all been there, and we get down on ourselves when we don’t think we are up to the challenge that’s in front of us.

But you know what?

You are.

You are an intelligent, hard-working, deserving woman who can do anything she puts her mind to!

Use this when: You’re face with something that feels unbearable, when you’re given a new project or assignment at work that you don’t feel qualified for.

3. Today’s actions are tomorrow’s present.

Getting out of bed before sunrise to go to the gym feels insane. Oftentimes, we’re inclined to stay snuggled up under our covers for another hour of shuteye rather than hop out of bed for a pre-dawn run.

But when you’re hitting snooze for the third time, it’s easy to forget that you set your alarm this early because you wanted your to fit a little better.

Use this when: You feel unmotivated to do something you know you should be doing. Trust me, your future self will thank you.

4. You can do it.

We all need a pep-talk every now and then, right? Reassuring yourself that you can do it—no matter what “it” happens to be—can help you pull together the strength you need to push through.

You wouldn’t encourage your best friend to give up when the finish line is in sight, would you? No way! Take a page from your own playbook and give yourself the encouragement you need when times get tough.

Reminding yourself that, “You can do it!” will help banish the doubt in your mind.

Use this when: You need a little extra encouragement and reassurance.

Introducing motivational mantras into your repertoire of tools against negative thoughts gives you more power over the negativity in your life. Couple your mantras with a power stance, power words, and good posture and you’ll be on your way to feeling more positive in no time!

Nicole is the Editor-in-Chief at GenTwenty. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Psychology. In her free time she enjoys exploring local markets, planning her next vacation, and reading any book she can get her hands on. VisitNicoleBooz.com to meet Nicole. Or, follow her on Twitter: @NicoleBooz and Pinterest: NicoleBooz